Group rejects hike in WAEC, NECO fees, urges FG to reverse decision

The Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for All Nigerians (CERON) has strongly condemned the Federal Government's approval of increased registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). The group described the decision as insensitive to the current economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerian families already struggling with rising living costs and worsening poverty.

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The approval of the increase in examination fees is a clear indication that those in charge of this country do not understand the magnitude of the pain and suffering Nigerians are going through.

CERON warned that the increase in examination fees would impose additional financial pressure on parents and could exacerbate the country's crisis of out-of-school children. The Federal Ministry of Education had previously issued a memo directing the Registrar of NECO to implement a new examination registration fee of N50,000, noting that the same fee had been approved for WAEC.

In response, CERON Secretary Francis Odiir labeled the decision as unacceptable and disconnected from the realities of ordinary Nigerians. "The approval of the increase in examination fees is a clear indication that those in charge of this country do not understand the magnitude of the pain and suffering Nigerians are going through," Odiir stated. He highlighted that many parents are already finding it difficult to provide basic necessities, making the fee increase ill-timed and counterproductive.

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Parents are already battling to provide food for their families, not to mention quality education. At a time like this, increasing examination fees is simply not right. Rather than easing the burden on citizens, the government is adding to their hardship.

Odiir called for the Federal Government to immediately reverse the decision, citing widespread rejection from parents and education stakeholders. He cautioned that higher examination fees could force many students to drop out of school due to affordability issues, further worsening the out-of-school children crisis. CERON urged government officials to consider the economic realities of Nigerians when formulating public policies, emphasizing the unfairness of adding burdens to citizens already facing difficult economic conditions.

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Our leaders must avoid policies that place additional burdens on ordinary citizens. It is unfair for a government to remain indifferent to the plight of people who are already facing difficult economic conditions.